Apparatus for removing and replacing heat



March 24, 1964 G. J. KLIMA 3,125,800 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AND REPLACING HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE ASSEMBLIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

GE'OEGE d [L v AgTTMA/EYSI March 24, 1964 G. J. KLIMA 3,125,800

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AND REPLACING HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE ASSEMBLIES Filed July 21, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'lC-F. 4. 23

United States Patent 3,125,800 APPARATUS FUR REMGVIN G AND REPLACHIG HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE ASSEMBLIES George J. Kliina, Houston, Tex. (2909 28th Ave. N., Texas City, Tex.) Filed July 21, 1961, Ser. No. 125,823 7 Claims. (til. 29202) This invention relates to apparatus for removing and replacing heat exchanger tube assemblies, and more particularly to an apparatus for exerting a pushing force on the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly, Whereby to dislodge the tube assembly from its shell or to replace said tube assembly.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for exerting a pushing force on the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly, whereby to disengage the tube assembly from its shell, or whereby to replace the tube assembly in its shell, the device being simple in construction, being easy to use, and enabling the tube assembly to be handled without damage thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device for exerting a pushing force on the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly, the device being relatively inexpensive to fabricate, being compact in size, being durable in construction, being easy to manipulate, and providing a means of safely and rapidly dislodging a heat exchanger tube assembly from its shell or for replacing the same, whereby the tube assembly may be readily removed for cleaning or repair thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a pusher device, according to the present invention, shown mounted on a rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly in a position for reinserting the tube assembly in its associated shell.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in horizontal cross section, and to a reduced scale, showing the manner in which a pusher device according to the present invention is employed to push a heat exchanger tube assembly out of its associated shell.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates the shell of a conventional heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising a multiple tube assembly 13 consisting of a large number of parallel heat exchange tubes 14 secured between respective circular end rim members 15 and 16. The rim member 15 is normally tightly received within the end rim 17 of the shell 11, whereby the heat exchanger tube assembly 13 is operatively supported within the shell 11, for example, as illustrated in FIGURE 7.

It frequently becomes necessary to remove the tube assembly 13, for cleaning, repair, or the like, and therefore a device is required for loosening the heat exchanger tube assembly from its shell to permit its removal, and conversely, when the servicing operations have been completed on the heat exchanger tube assembly, a device is required for replacing same in its shell 11.

According to the present invention, a device for use in accomplishing this purpose comprises a pair of abutment members 18, 18 provided with lug means 19, 19

engageable against diametrically opposite portions of the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly and con nected together by means to exert inward pulling force on the abutment members, whereby to clamp same to the rim. Thus, as shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, the abutment members 18 comprise plate members 20, 26, each formed with an upstanding front flange 21 and upstanding side flanges 22, 22 between which are journaled respective cable sheaves 23, the walls 22 being formed with arcuately shaped upper portions 24 between which the sheaves 22 are located.

The members 18 are formed at their outer ends with the respective depending lugs 19, whereby a pair of such lugs 19 is provided for each abutment member 18. Secured to the bottom surfaces of the members 20 are respective angle bars 25, 25 which are rigidly secured to the lugs 19, 19 so that their depending flanges 26 form a part of the lug means associated with the abutment members for engaging diametrically opposite portions of the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly.

The plate members 26 are formed at their longitudinal edges with respective guide sleeves 27, 27 through which extend a pair of parallel guide rods 28, 28, the rods 28 slidably engaging in the sleeves 27 to retain the plate members 20, 20 in alignment with each other. Transversely connecting the intermediate portions of the guide rods 28, 28 are a pair of cross plates 29, 29, said cross plates being spaced from each other and being formed at their intermediate portions with respective upwardly facing notches 3t}, 30, as viewed in FIGURE 4. Designated at 35 is a tension rod which is rotatably mounted in the notches 3t 3t) and which is formed with oppositely threaded end portions 31 and 32 threadedly engaged with the respective flanges 21, 21. The intermediate portion of the tension rod 35 comprises a squared shaft element 33 on which is rigidly mounted a ratchet wheel 34- having annular opposite collar portions 35, 35 on which is journaled a ratchet housing 36. The housing 36 is formed with a radially extending lug 37 in which is threadedly secured a handle 38 for rotating the housing, the lug 37 being formed with a cavity containing a spring biased ball detent 39 which is engageable between the teeth of the ratchet disc 34, as shown in FIGURE 6 to yieldably hold the ratchet disc 34 against rotation. The housing 36 is further formed with a hollow radially extending portion 40 containing a spring pressed pawl member 41 which is lockingly engageable between the teeth of the ratchet disc 34, as shown in FIGURE 6, and which restricts rotation of the disc 34 relative to the housing 36 through a clockwise direction of the disc, as viewed in FIGURE 6. The pawl member 41 is provided with an externally projecting knob portion 4-2 which allows the pawl to be at times manually retracted so that the disc 34 may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 6, if so desired.

As will be readily apparent, when the disc 34 is rotated by means of the handle 38, the tension rod 35 is likewise rotated. When the rod 3%; is employed to rotate the disc 34 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 6, the threaded portions 31 and 32 cooperate with the flanges 21, 2.1 to exert a pulling force on the abutment members 18, 18, pulling the abutment members inwardly. The abutment members 18, 18 may be moved outwardly with respect to each other by rotating the disc member 34 in a counterclockwise direction by means of the handle 38, this being permitted by pulling the pawl element 41 outwardly by means of its knob 42, as above described, to allow such counterclockwise rotation of the disc 34.

In using the pushing device of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 to remove a heat exchanger tube assembly from its shell, the pulling device is clamped on the smaller rim 16 ot the tube assembly, as shown in FIGURE 7, said rim being engaged at diammetricaliy opposite points thereof be tween the flanges 26, 26, and the device being clamped by operating the ratchet mechanism above described by means of its handle 38 to pull the abutment members 11$, 18 towards each other sufficiently to exert a tight clamping force on rim 16.

A cable 50 is secured at one end to a portion of shell 11 adjacent one of the abutment members 18, for example, is secured to an eye bolt 51 secured to the adjacent rim 52 of the shell, the cable being engaged in the grooves of the sheaves 23 23, as illustrated in FIG- URE 6, and being connected to a suitable winch located to develop pulling tension in the cable. This tension is transmitted through the pushing device to exert an inward pushing force on the rim 16, which is transmitted through the heat exchanger tube assembly 13 to its opposite rim 15, the force being sufficient to dislodge the rim 15 from the heat exchanger rim 17. This allows the heat exchanger tube assembly 13 to be removed from the shell 11 for suitable service operations thereon, such as cleaning, repairs, or the like.

In replacing the heat exchanger tube assembly in the shell ill, a generally reverse procedure is followed. Thus, the pushing device of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 is clamped on the rim 15 of the heat exchanger tube assembly, using the same procedure as previously employed to clamp it on the rim l6, and the cable Ell is arranged so that it can be employed to develop an inward pushing force on the rim 15 to force said rim into tight frictional engagement with the rim 1'? of the shell. Thus, one end of the cable 5% may be fastened to an eye bolt 55 secured to one of the side supporting posts 56 associated with the shell 11 and the cable may be then engaged in the grooves of the sheaves 23, 23 and passed around a cable sheave 57 mounted in a sheave bracket 5% secured to the opposite post member 59 associated with the heat exchanger shell 11. The cable 50 is connected to a suitable Winch located so that the cable may be wound up thereon and tension may be developed in the cable which is applied to the pushing device and which thus develops an inward pushing force on the rim 15 which moves the heat exchanger tube assembly back into the shell 11 and which forces the rim 15 into tight seating engagement in the recess provided therefor in the rim 17 of the shell.

It will thus be seen that a means is provided for applying a pushing force on either end of the heat exchanger tube assembly, as required, namely, for removing the tube assembly from the shell, or for replacing the tube assembly in the shell.

While a specific embodiment of an improved device for exerting a pushing force on the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modi fications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for exerting a pushing force on the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly, whereby to move the tube assembly relative to its shell, comprising a pair of substantially aligned plate members, lug means on said plate members engageable with diametrically opposite portionsof the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly, means to exert inward pulling force on the plate members, whereby to clamp same to the rim, respective cable sheaves journaled on said plate members in alignment with each other, and a cable engaging said sheaves and adapted to be secured at one end to a portion of the heat exchanger shell and adapted to be connected at its other end to means for developing tension in said cable and for transmitting said tension to said sheaves to produce a pushing force on the tube assembly rim.

2. A device for exerting a pushing force on the cirthe cular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly, whereby to move the tube assembly relative to its shell, comprising a pair of substantially aligned coplanar plate members provided with lug means engageable against diametrically opposite portions of the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly, means to exert inward pulling force on the plate members, whereby to force said lug means into clamping engagement with the rim, respective cable sheaves journaled on said plate members in alignment with each other, and a cable engaging said sheaves and adapted to be secured at one end to a portion of the heat exchanger shell and to be engaged around an opposite portion of the shell and adapted to be connected at its other end to means for developing tension in said cable and for transmitting said tension to said sheaves to produce a pushing force on the tube assembly Hill.

3. A device for exerting a pushing force on the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly, whereby to move the tube assembly relative to its shell comprising a pair of substantially aligned coplanar plate members, lug means on said plate members engageable against diametrically opposite portions of the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly, a transversely extending tension member having oppositely threaded end portions, threadedly engaged respectively in said plate members, parallel guide rods extending slidably through said plate members and located on opposite sides of and being parallel to said tension member, means connecting said guide rods at their intermediate portions and rotatably engaging said tension member, means to rotate said tension member to exert inward pulling force on the plate members, whereby to clamp same to the rim, respective cable sheaves journaled on said plate members in alignment with each other, and a cable engaging said sheaves and adapted to be secured at one end to a part of the heat exchanger shell and adapted to be connected at its other end to means for developing tension in said cable and for transmitting said tension to said sheaves to produce a pushing force on the tube assembly rim.

4. A device for exerting a pushing force on the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly, whereby to move the tube assembly relative to its shell, comprising a pair of substantially aligned coplanar plate members, lug means on said plate members engageable against diametrically opposite portions of the circular rim of a heat exchanger tube assembly, a pair of parallel guide rods extending slidably through said plate members, a pair of spaced cross plates connecting the intermediate portions of said guide rods, said cross plates being formed with aligned notches, a tension rod rotatably engaged in said notches and having oppositely threaded end portions threadedly engaged with said plate members, a ratchet lever assembly mounted on said tension rod between said cross plates for rotating the tension rod and clamping the plate members on said rim, respective cable sheaves journaled on said plate members in alignment with each other, and a cable engaging said sheaves and adapted to be secured at one end to a portion of the heat exchanger shell and adapted to be connected at its other end to means for developing tension in said cable and for transmitting said tension to said sheaves to produce a pushing force on the tube assembly rim.

5. An assembling apparatus for a structure including a heat exchanger shell and a heat exchanger tube as sembly in said shell, said assembly having a circular rim, said apparatus comprising a pair of substantially aligned plate members engageable with said rim, lug means on the plate members located to bear at diametrically opposite peripheral portions of said rim, means to pull said plate members towards each other, whereby to exert clamping force on the rim, respective cable sheaves journaled on said plate members in alignment with each other, a cable adapted to be connected at one end to a portion of the shell, and a cable sheave adapted to be mounted on an opposite portion of the shell and to receive said cable, said cable being engageable in the first-named cable sheave and being adapted to develop an inward pushing force on said rim responsive to tension developed in said cable.

6. An assembling apparatus for a structure including a heat exchanger shell and a heat exchanger tube assembly in said shell, said assembly having a circular rim, said apparatus comprising a pair of substantially aligned plate members engageable with said rim, lug means on the plate members located to bear at diametrically opposite peripheral portions of said rim, means to pull said plate members towards each other, whereby to exert clamping force on the rim, respective cable sheaves journaled on said plate members in alignment with each other, a cable sheave adapted to be secured to a side portion of the shell, and a cable adapted to be connected to the opposite side of the shell and to engage the first-named cable sheave and to extend around the last-named cable sheave and adapted to be connected to a pulling means, whereby to develop an inward pushing force on said rim.

7. An assembling apparatus for a structure including a heat exchanger shell and a heat exchange tube assembly in said shell, said assembly having a circular rim, said apparatus comprising a pair of substantially aligned plate members engageable with said rim, lug means on the plate members located to bear on diametrically opposite peripheral portions of said rim, a transversely extending tension member having oppositely threaded end portions threadedly engaged respectively in said plate members, means to rotate said tension member to pull said plate members towards each other, whereby to exert clamping force on the rim, respective cable sheaves journaled on said plate members in alignment with each other, a cable adapted to be connected at one end to a portion of the shell, and a cable sheave adapted to be mounted on an opposite portion of the shell and to receive said cable, said cable being engageable in the first-named cable sheave and being adapted to develop an inward pushing force on said rim responsive to tension developed in said cable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,817,327 Tatro Aug. 4, 1931 1,837,792 Randolph Dec. 22, 1931 1,838,738 Bradley Dec. 29, 1931 

1. A DEVICE FOR EXERTING A PUSHING FORCE ON THE CIRCULAR RIM OF A HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE ASSEMBLY, WHEREBY TO MOVER THE TUBE ASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO ITS SHELL COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED PLATE MEMBERS, LUG MEANS ON SAID PLATE MEMBERS ENGAGEABLE WITH DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE PORTIONS OF THE CIRCULAR RIM OF A HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE ASSEMBLY, MEANS TO EXERT INWARD PULLING FORCE ON THE PLATE MEMBERS, WHEREBY TO CLAMP SAME TO THE RIM, RESPECTIVE CABLE SHEAVES JOURNALED ON SAID PLATE MEMBERS IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER, AND A CABLE ENGAGING SAID SHEAVES AND ADAPTED TO BE SECURED AT ONE END TO A PORTION OF THE HEAT EXCHANGER SHELL AND ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED AT ITS OTHER END TO MEANS FOR DEVELOPING TENSION IN SAID CABLE AND FOR TRANSMITTING SAID TENSION TO SAID SHEAVES TO PRODUCE A PUSHING FORCE ON THE TUBE ASSEMBLY RIM. 